CHINA NEWS

Hi Everyone,

Summer has definitely arrived and each day is hot. We’ve had some rain but it doesn’t last long and dries up very quickly as it’s so hot. Inside the flat is quite hot as well now, so it’s not so easy to sleep. No mosquitoes yet but they will come soon! Then I have to have a small heater, which heats up a thin pad giving off a smell. Mosquitoes don’t like the smell so stay away for you! I also have a battery-operated bat with fine metal “strings” with which you electrocute them if they land on a wall.

The lady who I work for, Sindy, fell and badly broke the two bones in the lower part of her leg at the beginning of June. She had to have plates inserted with 5 screws in a 3-hour operation. Terrible! About 3 weeks before that her son Simon was knocked over while playing basketball and broke his lower arm! So her husband had better be careful! This of course gave me a problem at school as Sindy teaches 1 class grammar. Fortunately, one of the new assistants has done that book before so was able to do it, which was great.

Today I went to the wedding I mentioned about last month. The groom was the son of Jenny’s older brother. Jenny is the lady I met on the plane May last year. The bride originally came from Beijing where her family still live. I was asked if some of the bride’s family could stay overnight in my flat! So she stayed with her mother, her aunt and her aunt’s daughter. They got up really early. I first woke to some noises at 4-30am! By 6am, others were arriving. By 7am, about 20 people were there. Good I have a large flat! However, it was a great honour as the bride got dressed there and they had photos. Also, the couple had the traditional wedding breakfast of, wait for it……………..…..noodles and boiled eggs. It’s symbolical rather than a real meal as they feed each other and just have a mouthful. Not sure what the meaning is yet so I must look it up. I’ve now been to 3 weddings but this is the first time I’ve seen the full process. We left at 8am to go to the groom’s father’s house to be greeted by lots of firecrackers and then photos in his large flat. The Chinese like the fireworks that just go bang. They are in strips and can last for 2-3 minutes. Very loud! Then we went to the restaurant for the ceremony and a meal. They were actually married several months ago. In China, couples just need to go to a special government office to get a certificate, which says you are married. A bit like going to Asda’s!! Overall a very interesting morning.

Enjoy your summer. Take care and best wishes to you all.

Alan Hill
22 June 2008